# Ingredient list:
→ Vanilla Cake
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
05 - 2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
08 - 1 1/4 cups whole milk
→ Buttercream
09 - 2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
10 - 6 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12 - 3 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
13 - Teal gel food coloring
→ Geode Decoration
14 - 2 cups rock sugar crystals (clear or white)
15 - Teal gel food coloring
16 - Edible gold leaf or gold luster dust and clear alcohol (such as vodka) for painting
→ Assembly
17 - Simple syrup (optional, for moistening cake layers)
# Cooking steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract. Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk, starting and finishing with the dry ingredients. Divide batter equally among pans. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
02 - Beat unsalted butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Incorporate heavy cream or milk as needed to achieve a spreadable texture. Tint the majority of buttercream teal using gel food coloring, reserving some uncolored buttercream for crumb coating.
03 - Place rock sugar crystals in a bowl. Add drops of teal gel food coloring and gently mix until evenly colored. If crystals become damp, let them dry on parchment paper.
04 - Level cake layers if necessary. Optionally brush layers with simple syrup to retain moisture. Stack cake layers with thin buttercream between each. Cover with a crumb coat using reserved uncolored buttercream and chill for 20 minutes. Frost entire cake with teal buttercream, smoothing sides and top with an offset spatula.
05 - Carve a wedge or slice into the side of the cake using a serrated knife to expose the interior. Spread a thin layer of buttercream inside the cut-out region. Press teal sugar crystals into the buttercream to create a geode effect, placing lighter crystals in the center and darker ones at the edges for depth. Paint the geode edges with edible gold leaf or brush with gold luster dust mixed with a small amount of clear alcohol for a metallic finish.
06 - Embellish the cake with additional gold accents. Optionally add a graduation topper for celebratory presentation.
